a weekly news from Chelsea

Here’s A Look At Our Transfer Targets….

Whether transfer season started or not Chelsea are always linked to almost every players in every nook and corner. But as the winter transfer window is soon approaching within the next 24-hours, here are some targets who’s roumours are getting stronger and stronger minute by minute….

1. Demba Ba

According to many reports emerging yesterday afternoon, it seems Chelsea are set to sign Newcastle’s Demba Ba. Talks were apparently scheduled between Stamford Bridge hierarchy and Ba`s representatives last night and this transfer rumour is coming from multiple sources, adding to its credibility. A release clause in Ba`s contract means Alan Pardew is powerless to prevent the 27 year-old`s departure from St James` Park and it is understood Chelsea are also willing to pay a further £2 million in agent`s fees to get the deal done and dusted. The signing of Ba would cost Chelsea £7m plus any signing on fees, agent’s fees etc.

Chelsea need more firepower, after having agreed the £12 million sale of Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool, and can no longer rely on the impressive Fernando Torres for the rest of the season. An injury to our number nine who seems on target for
20+ goals this season wouldn’t be good, so a player with Premiership experience and who finds the net on a regular occurrence, albeit a snip at £7m, seems good business.
Benítez was tight-lipped on the potential new arrival. “We do not talk about our business in public. My job is to prepare the team for games and they will let me know,” he said. “Ba plays for another team so I do not like to talk about it.”

Newcastle United are resigned to losing Ba who is looking for a five-year-contract and wages of around £83,000-a-week, a package Newcastle are reportedly not keen on offering. Could this be a shrewd piece of business by Benitez? The man can score goals, and £7m isn’t a lot of money for a proven Premiership striker these days.

His 13 goals thus far this season make him the Premier League’s second highest scorer behind Robin Van Persie and level with Michu and Luis Suarez.

2. Taison & Paulinho

The 24-year-old Brazilian forward Taison attended Chelsea’s goalless draw with Fulham back in November, and negotiations have been held between the Blues and his Ukranian club Metalist for several weeks now. Taison will give boss Rafa Benitez options as he can play all across the front line and is not necessarily known as an out-and-out goal scorer, notching 18 goals in 69 appearances in Ukraine.

Similarly, whispers that Chelsea are in pursuit of Corinthians midfielder Paulinho have been a around for a few weeks. Remember him right?? Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, who has scored two goals for Brazil in just 8 international appearances, has been linked with Stamford Bridge – as well as the Etihad Stadium – and is understood to have a get-out clause somewhere in the region of £20m.

Paulinho, a defensive midfielder with a knack of scoring goals too, has been cited as a target for the Pensioners after the loss of Oriel Romeu while John Obi Mikel is set to depart the club for the African Cup of Nations in January.

Yet one has to question whether Paulinho will actually come the West London after the Brazilian recently told Esporte iG ”I’m staying with Corinthians. There was a lot of speculation that I could be leaving and there were indeed some talks, but I wasn’t aware of anything concrete.”

Moreover, Corinthians director of football, Edu, has warned suitors off his midfielder Paulinho, saying “our club is now one of the richest clubs in Brazil, that’s for sure and we can keep good players like Paulinho. We can buy good players. That makes it an exciting time to be in Corinthians. It’s a good place to be.”

Here are some video evidence of Taison and Paulinho can be seen below:

OTHER NEWS:

Wallace To Roma On Loan??

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport report that Roma will look to take future Chelsea signing Wallace on a two-year loan once he arrives in London later this year.

The transfer of Wallace, 18, was announced earlier this month, but with Spaniard César Azpilicueta and Serbian Branislav Ivanovic already firmly established in the Chelsea first-team squad, the possibility of a loan move had been mooted. Chelsea are believed to be uncertain over the player’s eligibility for a work permit upon arrival in June and could be tempted by the idea of a long-term loan move at one of Italy’s biggest clubs. Corriere report that Roma are also looking to scupper Juventus’ move for Botafogo defender Dória just as the Turin outfit had looked certain to seal a €9 million deal. The reports, though, are yet to be verified by any sources in the Brazilian media.

Both Wallace and Dória were named in the Brazil Under-20 squad announced on Sunday for January’s South American championship.

What About Lampard’s Future??

Meanwhile, Lampard, who kissed the club badge on his shirt after the second goal, said: “I keep trying to give my best, as I’ve always done.“I’m enjoying playing again. I know there is a lot of speculation and talk, but for me, the enjoyable bit is being out there.” Benitez added: “Lampard is under contract and showed his full commitment. He is a great player. My job is to keep him fit and if he can score more goals that will be great.”

And Ashley Cole…

Ashley Cole is set to be taken out for clandestine dinners around London once again as the Mirror report that the Chelsea left-back will begin talks with long-time admirers Real Madrid and PSG this week. Cole’s contract expires in the summer, thus giving the 32 year old permission to talk to clubs once the January window opens. Chelsea have made it clear that they will not allow the ex-Arsenal defender to leave in January and it will suit PSG as Carlo Ancelotti told L’Equipe that he wasn’t looking to bring in anybody next month.